Safety device for folding treadmill

ABSTRACT

A folding treadmill includes a frame pivotally coupled to a seat, a tread base having a motorized endless treadmill belt and having a front portion pivotally coupled to the frame for allowing the front portion of the tread base to be moved up and down relative to the seat by the frame, and a switching device having one switching member attached to the frame, and another switching member attached to the tread base for selectively switching off the motorized endless treadmill belt when the tread base is moved upwardly to the upward folding position and for preventing the motorized endless treadmill belt from being operated inadvertently and for preventing the users or children from being hurt inadvertently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a folding treadmill, and more particularly to a folding treadmill including a safety controlling or switching device for switching off the motor-driven endless treadmill belt when in the folding position or configuration and for preventing the motor-driven endless treadmill belt from being operated inadvertently.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical folding treadmills comprise a tread base pivotally attached or supported on a supporting seat and foldable relative to the tread base between a downwardly working position and an upwardly folding or storing position.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,791 to Kuo discloses one of the typical tiltable and foldable treadmill device comprising an actuating device coupled between the tread base and the seat for moving or rotating the tread base upwardly to the upwardly folding or storing position.

However, even when or after the tread base has been moved or rotated upwardly folding or storing position, the motor-driven endless treadmill belt may still be energized or operated, or the motor-driven endless treadmill belt may not be switched off such that the operated endless treadmill belt may hurt the users, particularly the children inadvertently.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional folding treadmills.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a folding treadmill including a safety controlling or switching device for switching off the motor-driven endless treadmill belt when in the folding position or configuration and for preventing the motor-driven endless treadmill belt from being operated inadvertently.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a folding treadmill comprising a seat including a front portion, a frame including a first end pivotally coupled to the front portion of the seat with a pivot axle for allowing the frame to be pivoted relative to the seat between a downward working position and an upward inclined position, and including a second end, a tread base including a motorized endless treadmill belt disposed therein and including a front portion pivotally coupled to the second end of the frame with a pivot rod for allowing the front portion of the tread base to be moved up and down relative to the seat by the frame, and to be pivoted relative to the seat and the frame between a horizontal working position and an upward folding position, and a switching device including a first switching member attached to the frame, and a second switching member attached to the tread base and disposed beside the first switching member for selectively actuating the first switching member and for switching off the motorized endless treadmill belt when the tread base is moved upwardly to the upward folding position and for preventing the motorized endless treadmill belt from being operated inadvertently.

The first switching member may be selected from a micro-switch. The second switching member may include an opening formed therein for partially receiving the pivot rod. For example, the second switching member includes a plate-shaped structure having the opening formed therein. The first switching member may be attached to the frame indirectly with a supporting element.

The frame includes a stay pivotally coupled between the seat and the frame, and a motorized actuating device attached to the frame and coupled to the stay for moving the frame relative to the seat between the downward working position and the upward inclined position.

The seat includes two side beams each having a longitudinal channel formed therein, and the stay includes two arms each having a pin slidably received and engaged in the channel of the seat for guiding the arms of the stay to move relative to the seat. The seat includes an extension coupled to the motorized actuating device.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding treadmill in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating the operation of the folding treadmill;

FIG. 3 is a side plan schematic view of the folding treadmill;

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 are side plan schematic views similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the folding or collapsing operation of the folding treadmill;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating the safety controlling or switching device of the folding treadmill;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial side plan schematic view illustrating the safety controlling or switching device as shown in FIG. 7; and

FIGS. 9, 10, 11 are enlarged partial side plan schematic views similar to FIG. 8, illustrating the operation of the safety controlling or switching device for the folding treadmill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a folding treadmill 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a supporting seat 10 including one or more (such as two) ears 11 extended upwardly from such as the front portion 12 thereof for supporting a pivot axle 13, and including a longitudinal channel 14 formed in each of the two side beams 15. The supporting seat 10 may further include one or more rollers or wheels 16 rotatably attached to the seat 10 for allowing the seat 10 to be easily moved to any suitable places or positions. The above-described structure for the supporting seat 10 is typical and will not be described in further details.

A frame 20 includes a first end or front portion 21 rotatably or pivotally attached or secured or coupled to the front portion 12 of the seat 10 with the pivot axle 13 for allowing the frame 20 to be rotated or pivoted relative to the seat 10 between a downwardly working position (FIGS. 1, 3, 6) and an upwardly folding or inclined position (FIGS. 2, 4, 5). A foldable or collapsible or retractable or extendible and motorized screw threading device or actuating device 22 is pivotally coupled to the frame 20, and a motor 23 is attached to the frame 20 and coupled to the actuating device 22 for operating or actuating the actuating device 22 or for extending or folding or collapsing or retracting the actuating device 22 (FIGS. 1-6).

A follower or stay 30 includes one or more (such as two) arms 31 and a bar 32 attached or secured or coupled between the arms 31, and includes a roller or pin 33 attached or secured to one end or the lower portion 34 of each arm 31 and slidably received or engaged in the corresponding channels 14 of the seat 10 for guiding the arms 31 of the stay 30 to move relative to the seat 10, and includes an upper portion 35 rotatably or pivotally attached or secured or coupled to the frame 20 with a pivot shaft 36 for supporting the frame 20 and for allowing the frame 20 to be rotated or pivoted relative to the seat 10 between the downwardly working position (FIGS. 1, 3, 6) and the upwardly folding or inclined position (FIGS. 2, 4, 5). The stay 30 includes an extension 37 extended therefrom, such as extended upwardly from the bar 32.

The actuating device 22 is pivotally coupled to the extension 37 of the stay 30, and the motor 23 is coupled to the actuating device 22 for operating or actuating the actuating device 22 to move or rotate the frame 20 between the downwardly working position (FIGS. 1, 3, 6) and the upwardly folding or inclined position (FIGS. 2, 4, 5). A tread base 40 includes a motor-driven or motorized endless treadmill belt 41 disposed or supported therein and includes a first end or front portion 42 rotatably or pivotally attached or secured or coupled to the second end or the rear portion 24 of the frame 20 with a pivot rod 43 for allowing the front portion 42 of the tread base 40 to be tilted or moved up and down relative to the seat 10 by the frame 20. The motor (not shown) for driving the endless treadmill belt 41 is typical and will not be described in further details.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, the frame 20 and the tread base 40 may be moved to the downwardly working position for allowing the endless treadmill belt 41 to be operated by the users to conduct the walking or the jogging exercises. When it is required to fold the tread base 40 upwardly to the upwardly folding or storing position as shown in FIG. 6, the motor 23 may first operate or actuate the actuating device 22 to move or to pull the stay 30, and to move or rotate the frame 20 upwardly to the inclined position as shown in FIGS. 2, 4-5, the front portion 42 of the tread base 40 may also be tilted or moved up relative to the seat 10 to the inclined position as shown in FIG. 4. The rear portion of the tread base 40 may then be elevated or moved upwardly to the intermediate folding position as shown in FIG. 5.

For example, another motorized or hydraulic or pneumatic operating device 45 further be provided and attached or coupled between the tread base 40 and the seat 10 for moving or rotating the tread base 40 upwardly from the inclined position as shown in FIG. 4 to the intermediate folding position as shown in FIG. 5, or the tread base 40 may also be moved or rotated upwardly from the inclined position as shown in FIG. 4 to the intermediate folding position as shown in FIG. 5 manually. The motor 23 may then be operated to actuate the actuating device 22 to move the stay 30 and to move or rotate the frame 20 downwardly to the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 6, the front portion 42 of the tread base 40 may also be moved down relative to the seat 10 to the downward or lower position as shown in FIG. 6 for allowing the tread base 40 to be easily moved to the upwardly folding or storing position as shown in FIG. 6.

The folding treadmill 1 in accordance with the present invention further comprises a safety controlling or switching device 5 for switching off the motor-driven endless treadmill belt 41 when in the folding position or configuration (FIG. 6) and for preventing the motor-driven endless treadmill belt 41 from being operated inadvertently. The safety controlling or switching means or device 5 includes a micro-switch or first switching member 50 attached to the frame 20 directly or indirectly with a supporting element 51, and an actuating element or second switching member 52 attached to the tread base 40, such as attached to the front portion 42 of the tread base 40, and disposed beside the micro-switch or first switching member 50 for selectively actuating the micro-switch or first switching member 50, particularly when the tread base 40 has been moved or rotated upwardly to the upwardly folding or storing position as shown in FIG. 6. The actuating element or second switching member 52 may include a plate-shaped structure having an opening 53 formed therein for partially receiving the pivot rod 43 (FIGS. 7-11).

As shown in FIGS. 7-11, the switching members 50, 52 are arranged to be separated from each other, or the micro-switch or first switching member 50 is arranged to be separated from the actuating element or second switching member 52 (FIGS. 7-10) when the tread base 40 is moved or rotated upwardly from the downwardly working position (FIGS. 1, 3, 6) toward the upwardly folding or inclined position (FIGS. 2, 4, 5), but before reaching the upwardly folding or inclined position. When reaching the upwardly folding or inclined position as shown in FIG. 6, the switching members 50, 52 are arranged to be engaged with each other, or the micro-switch or first switching member 50 may be engaged with or actuated by the actuating element or second switching member 52 (FIG. 11) in order to switch off the motor-driven endless treadmill belt 41 when in the folding position or configuration (FIG. 6) and for preventing the motor-driven endless treadmill belt 41 from being operated inadvertently.

Accordingly, the folding treadmill in accordance with the present invention includes a safety controlling or switching device for switching off the motor-driven endless treadmill belt when in the folding position and for preventing the motor-driven endless treadmill belt from being operated inadvertently.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A folding treadmill comprising: a seat including a front portion, a frame including a first end pivotally coupled to said front portion of said seat with a pivot axle for allowing said frame to be pivoted relative to said seat between a downward working position and an upward inclined position, and including a second end, a tread base including a motorized endless treadmill belt disposed therein and including a front portion pivotally coupled to said second end of said frame with a pivot rod for allowing said front portion of said tread base to be moved up and down relative to said seat by said frame, and to be pivoted relative to said seat and said frame between a horizontal working position and an upward folding position, and a switching means including a first switching member attached to said frame, and a second switching member attached to said tread base and disposed beside said first switching member for selectively actuating said first switching member and for switching off said motorized endless treadmill belt when said tread base is moved upwardly to the upward folding position and for preventing said motorized endless treadmill belt from being operated inadvertently.
 2. The folding treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first switching member is a micro-switch.
 3. The folding treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second switching member includes an opening formed therein for partially receiving said pivot rod.
 4. The folding treadmill as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second switching member includes a plate-shaped structure having said opening formed therein.
 5. The folding treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first switching member is attached to said frame with a supporting element.
 6. The folding treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame includes a stay pivotally coupled between said seat and said frame, and a motorized actuating device attached to said frame and coupled to said stay for moving said frame relative to said seat between the downward working position and the upward inclined position.
 7. The folding treadmill as claimed in claim 6, wherein said seat includes two side beams each having a longitudinal channel formed therein, and said stay includes two arms each having a pin slidably received and engaged in said channel of said seat for guiding said arms of said stay to move relative to said seat.
 8. The folding treadmill as claimed in claim 6, wherein said seat includes an extension coupled to said motorized actuating device. 